Moldova's programme on attracting remittances to economy described as success model taken over by other countries

Chisinau, 25 January /MOLDPRES/ – The programme for attracting remittances to economy PARE 1+1, launched by Government in 2011, got appreciation of participants at a press conference held on occasion of the visit to Chisinau of the Tajikistan delegation and representatives of the UN Organisation of Agriculture and Food (FAO) as a successful model, which raised the interest of more countries.

"The PARE 1+1 programme achieved remarkable results. We are glad that its experience and success attracted a lively interest of Tajikistan, other European and Central Asian states," said interim Director of the Organization for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (ODIMM), Petru Gurgurov. He added that the positive experience of Moldova was taken over by other countries, such as Ukraine, Romania and other strategic development partners.

The State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure (MEI), Iulia Iabanji – Costin, said that the Programme for attracting remittances to the economy is a priority onto agendaof the Government and would be further implemented. "The PARE 1+1 programme is considered a good practice model for our Government as well as internationally," said the Secretary of State.

"We are proud that the FAO representatives visiting Moldova analised and identified this programme as a good experience to be implemented in Tajikistan," said Iulia Iabanji – Costin.

The Deputy Director and FAO Affairs Officer, Marco Sanchez, said remittances played an important role in countries like Moldova, Tajikistan, so it is very important to attract them into economy. Taking over the experience of Moldova will contribute to the development of the economy in Tajikistan.

The delegation representative, Tolibjon Sharipov, deputy head of the Tadjikistan Migration Service, said that the experience of Moldova in implementing the programme for attracting remittances into economy is encouraging. The Tadjik Government, with FAO’s support, intends to implement a similar model to attract migrant workers’ remittances in the form of investment in agriculture and agri – food sector by awarding grants for small projects including training and education.

The PARE 1+1 programme was launched in 2010 and implies mobilizing human and financial resources of Moldovan emigrant workers in the sustainable economic development of Moldova. The programme operates upon basis of rule 1+1, so that each MDL invested in remittances will be supplemented with a grant – based lump within programme. The beneficiaries of the grants may be migrant workers, Moldovan citizens and beneficiaries of remittances and relatives of first degree. The ODIMM data show that since its launch, the programme has been granted financing in the amount over MDL 213 million, and the amount total investment exceeded MDL 678 million, so a leu offered as a grant generates MDL 3.1 of investments intO economy. Altogether, there were created 3,170 new jobs.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor A. Raileanu)